Q. Are all events in a person’s life predetermined by God? Is this supported by any authentic text? In this case, does this not mean that some people are privileged from birth, and some have the best in this world and in the life to come? If a person is predestined to live a life of sin, how is he made accountable for his sins? If people are free, then when their lives are cut short, say, by a natural disaster, their chance of repentance and mending their ways is removed. May I ask a pointed question for which I hope to receive a direct answer: are we masters of our own destinies?
Afzal Sanai, Al-Kharj
A. It is not true to say that all human actions are predetermined by God, but it is true to say that they take place by God’s will. The two statements are widely different. It is God’s will to give human beings a free choice in a wide area of their lives. Thus, when they exercise this free choice, they do so by God’s will. This does not mean that God interferes directly to force them to make their choices in a particular fashion.
This would be contrary to the very thought of free choice. But we say that free choice is a reality in our lives. Everyone knows and experiences that. We make choices at every juncture, and we do not feel forced to make a particular choice. We are free to follow what we feel to be best, or least disadvantageous, or more enjoyable, or in our interest. There is no doubt about this, because it is God’s will to grant us that freedom of choice.
Thus, the privilege you are speaking about is not true. In fact, the opposite is: we are all born with the same predisposition to believe in God and follow His guidance. We also have the same ability to turn away from it and follow our desires wherever they lead us. The question here is one of choice, and when we make our choice, God facilitates it for us. Thus, a person must take the initial step to believe in God and follow His message. When a person does that, God makes his path in that direction easier. The same is the case when a person turns away from God and chooses to disbelieve in Him. God makes his way to error easier. But all this is determined by man’s own free choice.
No one is deprived of any chance to repent and mend his ways after committing errors and falling in sin. We all know that we are liable to die at any moment. Hence, we must always be on the alert. If we forget and indulge in some forbidden pursuit, we should immediately repent and seek God’s forgiveness. This is the mark of true believers. God says in the Qur’an: "If those who are God-fearing experience a tempting thought from Satan, they bethink themselves (of God); and they begin to see things clearly." (7: 201)
We must not allow time to pass before turning to God in repentance, because we must always be aware that if we do not do so, death may overtake us and we could end up in disobedience to God. Why do you think that natural disasters, or murder deprives anyone of his or her chance, when no one knows whether he or she will live for another minute? The time for repentance is now. If we lose it, it is our choice not to make use of it.
Having said that, I add that there is an area in life where we have no choice, such as being affected by natural laws and phenomena.
Thus, we contract a disease if we expose ourselves to it. When we have that disease, our immune system will try to defend our bodies against it. The immune system will not wait for our choice to make its defense. If we put our finger in the fire, it burns. If we walk in the rain, we get wet. If we go into the sea and do not swim, we get drowned.
There is no choice in such matters. Are we masters of our destinies? The answer is: Yes, within the limits God has given us.